Punjab Police arrest KLF chief

Their location, arrest and extradition was possible following a joint operation of the Punjab Police and Central agencies in co-ordination with Thai authorities.

Harminder Singh Mintoo

The Punjab Police on Friday claimed to have arrested chief of Khalistan Liberation Force, Harminder Singh alias Mintoo and his close associate Gurpreet Singh Gopi from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, after they were extradited from Thailand.

While Mintoo was wanted in 10 terrorism related offences, Gopi had earlier been tasked with assassinations of Hindu leaders. Their location, arrest and extradition was possible following a joint operation of the Punjab Police and Central agencies in co-ordination with Thai authorities. Through a similar operation the Punjab police had on Thursday arrested Khalistan Tiger Force operative, Ramandeep Singh Goldy, who was traced in Malaysia.

According to an official release, the counter intelligence wing of the Punjab Police had started an exercise of tracking wanted terrorists who have bases in different countries. A two-member team camped in Thailand for three weeks in October. Intelligence inputs established that Mintoo was using a fake passport and identity card issued in the name of one Gurdeep Singh in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Initial information with the Punjab police said that Mintoo wanted to strengthen KLF by developing contacts with the foreign-based supporters and fund-raisers. In June 2013, after leaving Pakistan for an extensive tour of Europe that lasted 11 months, he visited Italy, Belgium, Germany, France and other European countries before reaching Thailand in May this year.

In 2013, the Punjab Police claimed to have neutralised various modules and sleeper cells created by the KLF chief, to carry out targeted assassinations of Hindu leaders and heads of various sects. Mintoo had decided to revive the once-dreaded terrorist outfit after he developed differences with the Babbar Khalsa International, ostensibly over claiming responsibility of assassinating Rulda Singh who was the head of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, an accepted offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

While working for the BKI chief Wadhawa Singh, during his stay in Pakistan, Mintoo is said to have developed close connections with the ISI handlers and those providing funds for the Khalistan movement. He is said to have used the social media to attract funds towards his organisation.